Former York man Merris hoping for Boro backing

Martin Dowey

It will be a brand new experience for Dave Merris to have Scarborough fans behind him rather than giving him grief from the terraces.

Scarborough Athletic’s new player-coach has been involved in some tasty derby battles against the town’s former club down the years while he was on the books of York City and Harrogate Town.

The left-sided 35-year-old, who was one of Steve Kittrick’s first signings since taking over as manager, is now looking to spark up a much friendlier relationship with the club’s supporters as he bids to help haul it away from the wrong end of the Evo-Stik North.

“Scarborough fans might not remember me for the right reasons,” he said.

“I did play against Scarborough FC quite a few times over the years.

“I always enjoyed playing in those games.

“The fans always were right in your face, I used to get quite a lot of grief back then.

“The atmosphere was always top drawer back in those derby days, they were the games you really loved to be involved in.

“I’m now looking forward to the challenge of getting this club up to where it belongs.

“A few experienced lads have been brought in and looking at the performance against Marske on Tuesday night, I thought there were a lot more positives than negatives about it.”

Having played well over 100 games in the upper echelons of the non-league pyramid, Merris arrives with a wealth of experience, which he is keen to pass on at the club.

The veteran winger added: “I’ll be bringing a bit of experience that I have picked up over the years, maybe a calming influence that I can pass on to some of the younger lads.

“I’m not getting any younger myself, but I obviously want to play for as long as I possibly can.

“Steve has been my manager a few times (at Guiseley and Ossett), he is a great asset for this club to have.

“I’ll be keen to give Steve and Chris Bolder any advice and guidance that I can pass on to them to make this club successful.”